What is coaching?
Coaching is an effective and powerful consulting technique that helps the client to discover the most suitable way of solving their problem or finding an answer to the troubling question with the assistance of various coaching tools and question/reflection methods. During the session, the client consciously commits time and attention while the coach uses questions or techniques to "guide" the client towards the solution or an answer.
Sometimes we may come across the opinion that coaching is just a question-answer session, but it is way more than that. It is curiosity, self-reflection, and a chance to hear yourself and your thoughts through a conversation with a coach. A coaching session is a time dedicated to experimenting and searching for different perspectives and alternative solutions. The purpose of the sessions is to help the person grow and gain new skills, angles or insights that they might not have seen or considered before.
What is not coaching?
Coaching is neither therapy nor counseling. During a coaching session, we don't address traumatic experiences and psychological problems or depression, but rather focus on the current situation that the client wants to change and work towards the desired outcome. Coaching sessions are also not mentorship, consulting, advice or recommendation sessions. In coaching – the client is the main driver of the session and the goal is to discover solutions that are most suitable to THEIR life situation, personality and values. Each person is capable of solving their questions in the most appropriate ways for themselves.
How many sessions will it take to find a solution?
It is very personal and depends on the complexity of the question and the client. Coach and client together plan the frequency and amount of sessions needed, taking into consideration the type and complexity of the question and the goal of the sessions. Sometimes one session (1 hour) is enough to find an answer/solution; sometimes, 5-6 sessions or more are needed.
How to prepare for the session?
Be curious about yourself. Be willing to experiment. Come with the courage to search for your answer/solution. Ask yourself: What could I learn about myself? What new point of view or perspective could I discover? What possibilities have I yet to notice?